You are here:

A Perfect Fall Day

October 14, 2010

This is our view out the front windows of the library looking toward I-29 in Dearborn. There probably are not going to be too many more beautiful days like this left this year. The maple tree across the street is about half turned in color to a beautiful orange. The tree seems to be the perfect complement to the house and yard where it stands. Not every bit of landscaping turns out so well.

My yard has too many pin oaks planted too close together. No sun gets to the grass below, and the grass does not grow well. I bet no one thought those trees that started out as saplings would eventually grow to be seventy feet high and forty feet wide. I am certainly going to start planning of a garden while it is too cold to go outside this winter. If I start early, I can get prepared for next spring. I've always wanted a few flowers around the driveway to brighten things up.

The library has a number of resources for planning gardens with some eye opening information. One book like that is Perfect Plant, Perfect Place by Roy Lancaster. It sorts plants by the characteristics gardeners need. Did you know it is hard to grow shrubs by the seacoast? The salt spray is bad for most shrubs, but some will tolerate it better than others. The book also talks about plants that put off allergens, planting by color for garden effects, plants that slugs don't like, and shrubs that will feed the birds or smell nice. Variables like necessary sun, soil types, and plant size are also sorted and defined.

I'm getting inspired to work on this as I look at Roy Lancaster's book. Mid-Continent Public Library has a great selection of gardening books that can help make your garden plans come to life. Do drop by and dig in.